#anywhere

"I saw Feni- OH, Tove, there's food for you! I left it at the Lodge.... this spicy red stuff..."

"Oh? " Tove smiles "How thoughtful"

"Not just that..."

She pats pockets. "Wait, upstairs..."

"It's this magic pacifier, for CJ. To help him sleep."

Her father eyes bright "Sleep ..at night?"

"Uh-huh. See, it records someone - like Tove - singing. Then, the baby can suck on it when stressed, and the lullaby plays back."

"That's marvelous" Tove says "Where..where did you find this? I'm sure one of the ladies here would have told me it was local"

"No, from Fenix."

"There's a boggan there, makes'm."

"What a genius whoever he or she is. That's a wonderful idea"

"And you do wonderful lullabies..."

Jaymes nods ("Puts me right to sleep")

Tove shoves her husband's shoulder lightly

"Dagmar, thank you. I know CJ's..welll, we're all glad he has healthy lungs" Her mother says charitbly

"Mm"

Nadeen says "Dagmar says his cry sounds like the bellows that were used to forge Thor's hammer but higher pitched"

"Just as loud, though."

"Well, I'm glad you're keeping up on your mythology" her mother says

"At least you didn't compare his crying to the howling winds of Niffleehelm"

"True. I leave that to the skald."

Nadeen smiles "I don't know. I sense an epic in the making"

"Volunteering for babysitting, Nadeen?" Jaymes asks.

"Ah, comment withdrawn" Nadeen says quickly

The mac and cheese is served, still hot and.. delicious!

And comforting. Nom.

It is... it reminds her ...mac and cheese was one of the first foods she got here come to think of it.

Wasn't it?

Angry, Surly

and so terribly lonely with distrust

and then gentle voices, kind hands.. and the food SHE wanted made

A precious, delicate thing...

Nadeen talks a bit more about the saddles and reins made. There are fine designs...

Jaymes says few words but so much in silence.

Tove's gentle tones go on and contribute, so Nadeen doesn't feel she talks to herself or is being ignored.

Dagmar doesn't want to bring up the confrontation, but horses are safe. So is the food, or CJ.

Things to talk about.

Not thinking about bleeding knuckles or Adam's tears.

And the mac and cheese makes her think of folks who aren't here right now. Kerri, knowing just how to earn trust. Brekke, as solid as a rock and yet a shining beacon. Vali's bad jokes but jokes with no cruelty in them. She...remembers Symon first showing himself,his wry humor and sly ways masking a true friend.

So if she drifts between talk of horses that will be... or memories of early acceptance, at least they let her ignore the thing that happened today.

Balance.

After dinner, she pleads exhaustion - no trip to Caer Falken today.

Nadeen gives her a hug "Want me to sleep over? I understand if not"

"No. I just... Sorry, I'm real tired. I just want to go to bed."

Nadeen nods "Okay."

"Maybe check Hemlock's stables tomorrow?" She offers "or the day after?"

"Maybe, yeah. Wanna see Fireblossom, for sure."

"Cool" She says "Night"

"Goodnight." She reaches out to brush the sidhe's cheek.

Nadeen leans into it and whispers "Never doubt you're special to me."